Compatibility -- New Navico Radars and Old Plotters

[Dockhead]

I am in the process of updating my electronics, installing a new Halo24 radar and new Zeus 3S plotters. I've got the radar in and just out of curiosity -- since I didn't think it would work -- I tried to fire it up using my ancient steam-powered non-touch Zeus Z8 plotter. And it worked!


It recognizes the radar a "Unknown Radar" but controls it just fine. I am surprised. I might have waited on the plotters upgrade if I had known.

[rslifkin]

I've seen a table published somewhere on compatibility of radar vs plotter for the Navico stuff. From what I remember, the Halo24 works on a bunch of the older plotters, but the other Halo radars (20, 20+, and open array) didn't have nearly the range of compatibility.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by rslifkin

I've seen a table published somewhere on compatibility of radar vs plotter for the Navico stuff. From what I remember, the Halo24 works on a bunch of the older plotters, but the other Halo radars (20, 20+, and open array) didn't have nearly the range of compatibility.

It's not entirely compatible because the old plotter doesn't have controls for some of the newer features -- like varying the scan speed, modes like weather mode, bird mode.


But it works fine, with all of the functionality of the old 4G radar, and the updated OpenCPN radar plugin also works fine.


So in case anyone is in a position like I was -- needing a new radar but not that eager to invest into new plotters, when the old ones were still OK -- it's possible to do this upgrade in stages.